The Sole Passer of the 286th Hunter Exam

The old man wore a loose, flowing martial arts uniform. Most of his head was shaved, with only a long braid tied up. His beard and hair were all white, giving him the appearance of a dignified superior.

He chuckled, hands clasped behind his back, as he walked towards the heroic Gelman and the naked Hisoka.

Beanpaste Man followed uneasily behind the old man, nervously rubbing his gloved hands together as if playing with a Rubik's Cube.

"I heard from Izunabi and Ian that there were two 'interesting and dangerous newcomers' this term, so I specifically came to take a look. As expected, Hogari and over twenty other examinees are down, and the rest have been scared away. This is your 'masterpiece'."

Hisoka casually snatched the clothes off a heavily injured examinee at his feet and put them on. He asked with a curious smile, "Who are you?"

Although he was still smiling and could see all the openings on the old man, he was even more vigilant. This was an instinctual premonition of danger, and he already had a guess in his heart.

The old man replied, "I am Netero, the current Chairman of the Hunter Association."

It really is Netero.

The thought flashed through Gelman and Hisoka's minds simultaneously.

"It was wise of you to stop," Netero glanced at Hisoka, then at Gelman. "However, even so, I cannot ignore the disturbance you have caused."

Gelman didn't want to take the blame for this.

He interjected, "This disturbance was caused by Hisoka. Please don't lump me in with him."

"You wound me with those words. We were 'partners'..." Hisoka said with a smile.

"I only said 'disturbance,' I didn't say the responsibility lies with you," Netero added. He then looked at Hisoka. "Because you attacked Hogari and heavily injured so many examinees, your qualification for this year's exam has been revoked."

Hisoka had long anticipated this outcome and spread his hands. "It doesn't matter. One of my goals has already been achieved. As for the Hunter License, I'll just come back for it next year."

For Hisoka, who had already mastered "Nen abilities," obtaining a Hunter License was indeed quite easy. It was so easy that he needed to find some amusement midway, or he would go mad from boredom.

The Hunter Association would not prohibit Hisoka from participating in next year's exam.

Gelman understood Hisoka's feelings. In the Hunter Exam, they were like two elite players returning to the beginner village to spar with novices; there was no comparison.

"It seems you accept this decision," Netero said with a smile, looking at Hisoka.

"Of course," Hisoka suddenly lowered his voice, shedding his imposing aura. "I don't want to fight you right now. It's too early, far too early."

With these words, Hisoka wasn't expressing humility, but arrogance. His true meaning was that in time, he would surpass the old man before him.

Hisoka always believed he was the strongest.

"Confidence is a good thing for young people," Netero said with a smile.

Hisoka chuckled and didn't linger unnecessarily.

He walked towards the dense mountain forest. As he passed Gelman, he whispered a soft instruction.

"Chrollo is still my top choice, but you also make it hard for me to let go because you are so interesting. To evolve to this extent in just over a month... I look forward to our next meeting."

Hisoka winked his right eye at Gelman and then strode away.

Netero, Beanpaste Man, and the nearby Hunters made no move to stop him, letting him leave.

"Beanpaste Man," Netero stroked his white beard. "Call the others over to take Hogari and the heavily injured examinees to the hospital, and then find those who ran away."

Beanpaste Man was much more relaxed now that Hisoka had left.

He quickly responded, wiping the sweat from his face with the back of his hand, and then scurried off with his short legs to relay the Chairman's orders.

"He's still too timid..." Netero chuckled as if teasing after Beanpaste Man had gone far away. "But his reactions always amuse me."

Gelman couldn't see what was amusing and could only remain silent.

"Little Biscuit was right, you are indeed taciturn..." Netero's sharp eyes, unbefitting of an old man, narrowed. "But your actions are always unexpected, not matching your indifferent exterior."

Netero was the founder of the Shingen-ryu style, and Biscuit's teacher. He was now over 110 years old, so calling the 50-something Biscuit "Little Biscuit" was perfectly acceptable.

Biscuit had asked her disciple Wing to send someone to participate in the Hunter Exam, and Netero had naturally been curious and asked many questions, thus learning quite a bit about Gelman.

"Do you have anything else to say to me?" Gelman wasn't interested in the Chairman of the Hunter Association or the founder of Shingen-ryu. His only target for the hunt now was "If you're done talking, let's start the next stage of the exam quickly."

Netero chuckled for a moment, stroking his beard. "For you, the Hunter Exam is indeed very simple... However, you don't need to participate in the next stage."

I don't need to participate?

Gelman looked up in slight surprise. "I didn't break any rules, did I?"

"Of course not," Netero explained unhurriedly. "What I mean is, this year's Hunter Exam ends here. There's no need for further testing."

"You see, of the remaining fifty-two examinees, one was disqualified for attacking an examiner, over twenty were heavily injured, and over twenty fled in panic. Only you remained here."

"I believe the sole qualified candidate for the 286th Hunter Exam has already been determined. I am confident that no examinee will have any objection to my judgment."

Gelman was somewhat surprised, then quickly dismissed it.

He wasn't interested in these trivial matters and directly extended his palm towards Netero.

"Then give me my Hunter License."

Netero chuckled again. "Don't be impatient. It still takes time to craft your unique Hunter License. First, get your left arm wound bandaged, and then take the airship to a nearby Hunter Association branch to rest."

At this moment, Beanpaste Man arrived with a group of Hunters.

They efficiently carried the heavily injured examinees onto stretchers and took them to a nearby hospital.

Two female Hunters also came forward to help Gelman with his injuries.

Soon, after seeing off the large batch of examinees, a wide space opened up in front of the Mansion of Mechanisms and Traps, just enough for a airship to land.

Thus, a quarter of an hour later, Gelman, following behind Netero and Beanpaste Man, boarded the special airship bearing the Hunter Association's insignia and flew towards the horizon amidst the whistling wind.

"Mr. Gelman, this is your room." Beanpaste Man stood before the door, curiously sizing up the sole successful examinee from head to toe, and handed over the key in its hand.

Gelman took it. "Thank you."

Beanpaste Man showed a surprised expression, then quickly replied, "You're welcome, you're welcome."

Gelman walked into the room with a strange feeling, locked the door from the inside, and then headed towards the bathroom, thinking, Do I look like the kind of person who doesn't thank others?